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Don Cherry’s Symphony for Improvisers, with Gato Barbieri, Henry Grimes, Ed Blackwell, Karl Berger, Jean-Francois Jenny-Clark, and Pharoah Sanders. I find Cherry’s work challenging at times to listen to and although this album would at glance fall into that category, I think Berger’s performance on vibes and especially Jenny-Clark’s on bass offer a sort of foundation for the other musician’s improvisations to sit on. I think it’s not because they are playing prewritten material, they aren’t, but because of the ranges of those two instruments are constricted and therefore offer continuity and familiarity that the tracks seem to frequently return to. I’m the sort of free jazz listener that needs the assist, so in this case I’m able to appreciate the music quite a bit more.

Khruangbin - Con Todo El Mundo (2018) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sophomore albums are hard. Especially after a brilliant debut. Khruangbin's debut The Universe Shines Upon You was a slow burning album that steadily grew in momentum over the last two years to gain wider acclaim. Fusing Thai molam with slinky funk with late night soulfulness, its one of my favourite albums over the last two years. Their follow up was expectedly anticipated and it had a tough act to follow. It's probably tough to replicate another album exactly the same as the first, whilst actually doing so might also invite criticism. It was a no-win situation I suppose. I'll admit this new one is nowhere as immediately seductive as the first, but it's the band trying to find a new path to snake down rather than just pull the same tricks again. They've added some new touches and influences from the exotic middle east, but have retained the same formula of instrumental grooves with a late night vibe. They've dialed back the Thai sound in most tracks, but it's always peeking through just at the side. Give this album some time and it will still entertain, but don't go looking for the pyrotechnics from the debut. It's still dreamy late night grooves you can sip a strong one to, and there are few who do it better now. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ #khruangbin#ihaveathingforvinyl#latenighttales ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well it’s true - Horace Silver and the Jazz Messengers are COOKIN’ on this record! One of my favorite Silver records and for good reason: this group found the perfect recipe to satisfy any jazz fan’s appetite here! From the sizzling more uptempo opener “Room 608”, to Hank’s syrupy playing on “Creepin’ In” this is for sure a tasty affair. Of course, the melodies for “The Preacher” and “Doodlin’” just simmer and are quite catchy, which is what you’d expect from Mr Silver & Co! So take in this record, let it marinate and you’ll always come away feeling full, even if you’ll lick your lips and come back soon for more of this delicious, well seasoned and satisfying music! 😋 🎶